Eastern Visayas Media Without Borders -

Libanan elected leader of 30-member House minority bloc

Tacloban City- 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan has been elected as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress. Libanan received the unanimous support of 29 other minority members during a caucus held on Monday, officially securing the leadership of the 30-strong bloc. Libanan also served as House Minority Leader in the 19th Congress. The House members who voted for Libanan as Minority Leader are: · Edgar Erice (Caloocan, 2nd District) · Presley De Jesus (PHILRECA) · Sergio Dagooc (APEC) · Jonathan Clement Abalos II (4Ps) · Stephen James Tan (Samar, 1st District) · Leila De Lima (Mamayang Liberal) · Percival Cendaña (Akbayan) · Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers) · Jesus Suntay (Quezon City, 4th District) · Christopher “Sheen” Gonzales (Eastern Samar, Lone District) · Jose Manuel Diokno (Akbayan) · Renee Louise Co (Kabataan) · Roberto Gerard Nazal Jr. (Bagong Henerasyon) · Jernie Jett Nisay (Pusong Pinoy) · Niko Raul Daza (Northern Samar, 1st District) · Allan Ty (LPGMA) · Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro (Albay, 1st District) · Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro) · Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands,…

Special Emergency Leave Available for Government Employees During Calamities

evmwb Tacloban City–Government employees affected by Tropical Storms Dante, Emong, Crising, and the southwest monsoon are encouraged to avail of the Special Emergency Leave (SEL), in accordance with guidelines from the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Those residing or working in areas officially declared under a state of calamity may use up to five days of SEL within 30 days from the onset of the disaster. This special leave is not deducted from their earned leave credits and may be taken either consecutively or on separate days. The SEL is granted under CSC Memorandum Circular Nos. 2, s. 2012 and 16, s. 2012, which allow the use of emergency leave in the event of natural disasters, provided a state of calamity is declared by the President or relevant local government units. For areas that have not been officially placed under a state of calamity but are evidently impacted, agency heads have the discretion to grant SEL, provided they establish clear internal guidelines…

4ps Congressman observes that suspension of higher biodiesel blend a disservice to 25 million Filipinos dependent on coconut industry

evmwb Tacloban City– Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan has expressed deep concern over the Department of Energy’s (DOE) decision to suspend the implementation of higher biodiesel blend mandates, calling the move “a disservice to 25 million Filipinos directly and indirectly dependent on the coconut industry for their livelihoods.” “The DOE’s decision to delay the shift to four percent (B4) and five percent (B5) biodiesel blends deals a serious blow to the millions of Filipino families whose survival hinges on coconut farming,” Libanan said. “At a time when we should be expanding opportunities for rural income and supporting domestic agriculture, this suspension pulls the rug out from under our coconut farmers,” Libanan added. He pointed out that the higher biodiesel blend would have spurred increased demand for copra – the dried meat of coconut from which biodiesel feedstock is derived – and in turn driven farmgate prices up. “More copra demand means higher copra prices, and that translates directly to food on…

POPULATION IN EASTERN VISAYAS REACHES to 4.63 MILLION IN 2024

Tacloban City–The regional Office 8 of the Philippine Statistics Authority ( PSA) revealed as of July 1, 2024, the total population of Eastern Visayas stood at 4,625,929. This count is based on the 2024 Census of Population (2024 POPCEN) released officially through Proclamation No. 973 dated 11 July 2025. The population of the region accounted for about 4.1 percent of the country’s 112,729,484 total population. Philippine Statistics Authority Compared with the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH), the regional population in 2024 increased by about 78,779 from 4.55 million in 2020. The region’s annual population growth rate (PGR) from 2020 to 2024 slowed down to 0.41 percent, translating to an average of about 4 additional persons for every 1,000 population per year. This growth rate is lower than the 0.50 percent recorded between 2015 and 2020. Among the six provinces in Eastern Visayas, Leyte (excluding Tacloban City) registered the largest population in 2024 with 1.82 million, accounting for …

CSC Revises Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has issued the 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (2025 RACCS) to reflect significant legal and procedural developments since the last revision in 2017. The RACCS has served as the primary framework for handling disciplinary and non-disciplinary cases involving government officials and employees nationwide. However, changes in legislation, evolving jurisprudence, and updated CSC policies prompted a comprehensive review and overhaul. The revised 2025 RACCS comprises 159 sections across 23 Rules. Key updates include the integration of laws such as: The 2025 RACCS also reflects recent Supreme Court rulings that have shaped administrative law, including: In addition, the revised rules incorporate key CSC initiatives and draft policies aimed at modernizing administrative procedures, such as: The CSC emphasized that the 2025 RACCS aims to streamline procedures and ensure administrative processes remain efficient, transparent, and aligned with current laws and best practices.

Romualdez: Nearly 4 in 10 students still drop out, time to strengthen free college law

Tacloban City–Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday sounded the alarm over soaring dropout rates in public colleges and universities, urging urgent action to strengthen the Free Higher Education Law and prevent millions of students from falling through the cracks of the country’s most ambitious education reform. “Free tuition was a landmark achievement, but the work is far from over. Nearly four out of 10 students in state universities and colleges are still dropping out. In some regions, the situation is even more alarming,” Rep. Romualdez lamented. Citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), Rep. Romualdez said the national dropout rate in school year 2023 to 2024 reached 39 percent. In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), it was as high as 93.4 percent. Central Visayas reported 60.7 percent, Zamboanga Peninsula 59.5 percent, Cordillera 54.9 percent, Metro Manila 52.4 percent, Soccsksargen 51.2 percent, and Western Visayas 50.2 percent. “These are not just statistics. They are…

Kapatid raises alleged abuseson political prisoners at TCJ

by Miriam G. Desacada Tacloban City–Kapatid, a support organization of families and friends of political prisoners in the Philippines, has raised its concern over the alleged maltreatment of controversial political prisoners inside the Tacloban City Jail (TCJ). Fides Lim, Kapatid spokesperson, said the group cited “mounting reports of neglect, discrimination, and abuses” done against detained activists Frenchie Mae Cumpio, Marielle Domequil, and three others—tagged as the Tacloban 5. Kapatid appealed to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) chief, General Ruel Rivera, to open a dialogue with families of the prisoners and advocacy groups about the alleged “pattern of ongoing harassment and neglect” at TCJ. The Tacloban 5, have been incarcerated since February 2020 on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and terrorism financing, which they and their supporters denied and deemed fabricated. The case of Cumpio, a journalist known for her reporting on alleged human rights abuses, has drawn international attention among press freedom advocates and human…

HB seeks Creation of centralized patient records in every town and city to improve healthcare delivery

Tacloban City– House Bill No. 1907 has recently filed by Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan seeking to mandate the creation of a Centralized Patient Record System (CPRS) in all municipalities and cities across the country to improve the continuity, quality, and efficiency of healthcare delivery. The proposed Local Health Record System Act of 2025, every patient seen in barangay health centers, rural health units (RHUs), and other local primary care facilities would have a comprehensive, accessible, and secure medical record. “In many underserved communities, a patient’s medical history often vanishes with each consultation,” Libanan said. “Our health workers do their best, but without a reliable record-keeping system, they’re often forced to work blindly.” “A centralized record system will not only prevent misdiagnosis and medical duplication—it will also save lives by giving health professionals the full picture of a patient’s condition,” Libanan emphasized. Libanan a lawyer by profession, also holds a degree in medical technology. The said bill requires local…

𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝟭𝟳𝟵𝟬 𝗯𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗽. 𝗘𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗻𝗴𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗮𝗻

Tacloban City–Northern Samar Second District Representative Congressman Edwin C. Ongchuan has filed House Bill No. 1790 on July 10, 2025. This proposed measure aims to modernize agriculture and strengthen the role of the rural youth in shaping a resilient and future-ready farming sector. Titled “An Act Promoting Rural Agricultural Technology Access and Innovation through a National Support Program for Farmers and Youth, and Appropriating Funds Therefor,” the bill seeks to establish a national initiative that integrates technology, training, and entrepreneurship. The bill responds to long-standing challenges in the agricultural sector, including low productivity, limited access to appropriate technologies, and the growing disinterest of young people in farming. It introduces a national support program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture that will promote access to modern agricultural tools, enhance digital connectivity in rural areas, and support innovation led by farmers and youth. A key feature of the bill is the creation of the Rural Agricultural Technology Access and Innovation…

CSC Issues Updated Rules on Appointments and Personnel Movements

Tacloban City–The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has approved the 2025 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions (ORAOHRA) through Resolution No. 2500358, promulgated on 30 April 2025. First adopted in 2017 under Resolution No. 1800692 (effective 26 August 2018), the ORAOHRA serves as the comprehensive guide on appointments, promotions, reassignments, and other personnel actions in the career service. Since then, the CSC has issued various amendments to address evolving administrative needs—such as adjustments to training requirements (Resolution No. 1900773) and streamlined procedures for agencies with PRIME-HRM accreditation (Resolution No. 1900898). The 2025 ORAOHRA introduces further amendments to align government HR policies with relevant laws and respond to emerging challenges such as calamities, disasters, and pandemics. Key Amendments in the 2025 ORAOHRA: The revised rules also offer clearer definitions of HR terms, including standards for experience, training, and eligibility. Additionally, agencies must now include appropriate notations on the face of the appointment form before the space for CSC action…